Diascia plant named &#39;diascot&#39;

ABSTRACT

A new  Diascia  plant particularly distinguished by its light apricot flowers, which produces no seeds, and has a growing habit that is very compact.

LATIN NAME OF THE GENUS AND SPECIES OF THE PLANT CLAIMED

Diascia barberae

VARIETAL DENOMINATION

‘Diascot’

BACKGROUND OF THE NEW PLANT

The present invention comprises a new distinct cultivar of Diascia, botanically known as Diascia barberae.

The new cultivar is propagated from cuttings resulting from the cross of ‘E0156-1’ and ‘E0210-2’ ‘E0156-1’ is an apricot flowering Diascia. ‘E0156-1’ is not commercially available and is not known by any synonyms. ‘E0210-2’ is an apricot flowering Diascia. ‘E0210-2’ is not commercially available and is not known by any synonyms. Neither ‘E0156-1’ nor ‘E0210-2’ have been patented.

As a result of this cross the present cultivar was created in 2004 in Enkhuizen, Netherlands and has been repeatedly asexually reproduced by cuttings in Enkhuizen, Netherlands and Sarrians, France over a three year period. It has been found to retain its distinctive characteristics through successive propagations. The new variety is stable and reproduces true to type in successive generations of asexual reproduction.

This new Diascia plant is an annual in most climatic zones in the US, except in zones 7, 8, 9, and 10, where it is a perennial plant.

DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING

This new Diascia plant is illustrated by the accompanying photographic drawing which shows blooms, buds and foliage of the plant in full color, the color shown being as true as can be reasonably obtained by conventional photographic procedures.

DESCRIPTION OF THE NEW CULTIVAR

The following detailed descriptions set forth the distinctive characteristics of this new Diascia. The data which defines these characteristics were collected from asexual reproductions carried out in Enkhuizen, Netherlands. The plant history was taken on 10 week old plants, cultured in 10.5 containers, blossomed under natural light in a greenhouse.

Color readings were taken in the greenhouse under ambient light. Color references are primarily to the R.H.S. Colour Chart of The Royal Horticultural Society of London.

TABLE 1 DIFFERENCES BETWEEN THE NEW CULTIVAR ‘DIASCOT,’ ITS PARENTS AND A SIMILAR CULTIVAR ‘Diaspritwo’ (U.S. ‘E0156- ‘E0210- Plant Pat. No. ‘DIASCOT’ 1’ 2’ 17,017) Flower color Light Apricot Orange Apricot Dark Apricot Plant size Medium Small Medium Medium Leaf size Small Small Large Medium Internodes Short Medium Short Medium

-   The plant:     -   -   Classification.—Botanical: Diascia barberae.         -   Parentage.—Female parent: ‘E0156-1’ Pollen parent:             ‘E0210-2’.         -   Growth habit.—Compact, spreading, ascending.         -   Plant height.—15-20 cm.         -   Speading area of plant.—16-30 cm.         -   Growth rate.—Vigorous.         -   Strength.—Very good.         -   Branching character.—Freely branching and lateral branching             at every node.         -   Quantity of branches.—45-56 branches per plant.         -   Blooming period.—From April until November. -   The stem:     -   -   Diameter.—2 mm.         -   Shape.—Quadrangular.         -   Length.—12-16 cm.         -   Color.—139C.         -   Anthocyan pigmentation.—Present.         -   Length of internode—Vegetative growth: 14-15 mm Generative             growth: 14-22 mm.         -   Pubescence.—Not pubescent. -   The foliage:     -   -   Phyllotaxis.—Opposite, decussate.         -   Number of leaves per lateral stem.—16-18.         -   Shape of leave.—Cordate.         -   Texture.—Upper side: Smooth Lower side: Smooth.         -   Attachment to leaf.—Petiolate.         -   Venation.—Pinnate.         -   Color of veins.—Upper side: 137A Lower side: 137C.         -   Leaf margin.—Dentate.         -   Leaf base.—Cordate.         -   Leaf apex.—Acute.         -   Length.—10-16 mm.         -   Width.—10-20 mm.         -   Depth of incision.—Less than 1 mm.         -   Color.—Upper side: 137A Lower side: 138B.         -   Pubescence.—No pubescence.         -   Length of petiole.—2 mm.         -   Diameter of petiole.—1-2 mm.         -   Color of petiole.—137C.         -   Petiole surface texture.—Smooth. -   The bud:     -   -   Peduncle length.—10-14 mm, depending on season.         -   Peduncle width.—1-2 mm.         -   Peduncle shape.—Long and threadlike.         -   Peduncle color.—138B with Anthocyan pigmentation.         -   Size of the bud.—Length: 1.5 mm Diameter: 1.5 mm.         -   Shape of the bud.—Oval.         -   Color of the bud.—138B with Anthocyan pigmentation.         -   Number of buds per lateral branch.—14-18.         -   Sepals.—Color both surfaces: 137A Form: Star-shaped Number:             5, parted Length: 1-2 mm Width: 1-2 mm Shape: Elliptic, apex             acute, base truncate Margin: Entire Texture: Pubescent.         -   Bracts.—Color upper side: 137A Color lower side: 137A             Arrangement: Sessile Number: One underneath every pedicel             Length: 1-2 mm Width: 1-2 mm Apex: Acute Base: Subcordate             Margin: Entire Texture: Pubescent.         -   Pedicels.—Color: 138B with Anthocyan pigmentation Shape:             Threadlike Length: 6-10 mm Diameter: 0.8 mm. -   The flower:     -   -   Inflorescence length.—10-12 cm.         -   Inflorescence diameter.—18-22 mm.         -   Flower width.—14-18 mm.         -   Flower length.—14-18 mm.         -   Flower depth.—4-6 mm.         -   Flower aspect.—Tipped upward and outward.         -   Borne.—Solitary, on axillary racemes.         -   Form.—Zygomorphic, five lobed, double nectar spur.         -   Cluster.—Raceme.         -   Color.—Upper surface: 35D, on the two upper banner petals             there is a small yellow (color 9B) indentation just above             the reproductive organs Lower surface: 35D, the two upper             banner petals are N35C.         -   Overlapping of the petals.—Separate.         -   Number of petals.—Five: two upper banner petals, two lateral             petals and one larger basal lip petal.         -   Shape of the banner petals.—Apex rounded, base fused.         -   Shape of the lateral petals.—Apex rounded, base fused, lower             surface modified into nectar spurs.         -   Shape of the basal lip petal.—Apex truncate, base fused.         -   Petal margin.—Entire.         -   Petal surface texture.—Smooth.         -   Size of the banner petals.—Length: 3-5 mm Width: 4-8 mm.         -   Size of the lateral petals.—Length: 4-8 mm Width: 6-10 mm.         -   Size of the basal lip petal.—Length: 14-16 mm Width: 14-18             mm.         -   Spur.—Length: 6.5 mm Diameter: 1-2 mm at petal attachment             Color: 35D.         -   Number of flowers per raceme.—14-27.         -   Fragrance.—No fragrance.         -   Lastingness of the bloom.—New florets continue to open in             one raceme over a period of 16 days.         -   Lastingness of one flower.—About 3 days depending on             temperature.         -   Flowering season.—Depending on climate from April until             November. -   The reproductive organs:     -   -   Androecium.—Stamen number: Three Anther shape: Two-lobed             Anther size: Less than 1 mm Anther color: 7B Amount of             pollen: Very much pollen Pollen color: 7B.         -   Gynoecium.—Pistil number: 1 Stigma shape: Rounded Pistil             length: 2-3 mm Style length: 1-2 mm Style color: 143A Stigma             color: 157B Ovary color: 134B. -   The fruit and the seed: No fruit development nor seed set has been     observed to date. -   The roots:     -   -   Type of roots.—Fibrous.         -   Rooting habit.—Fine and freely branching.         -   Color.—Whitish, N 55B. -   Physiological and ecological characteristics:     -   -   Disease/pest resistance.—Plants of the new Diascia have not             been noted to be resistant to pathogens or pests common to             Diascia.         -   Temperature tolerance.—Plants of the new Diascia have been             observed to tolerate temperatures from −2 to 36 degrees C. 

1. A new and distinct variety of Diascia plant as substantially illustrated and described herein. 